Hildegard Nacker

Hildegard Nacker was born October 23, 1916 to Frederick John and Augusta Marie Ludeman Garchow. Known as Hilda to friends and family, she was the second youngest of 10 siblings: Arnold, Elmer, Edgar (Ed), Harry, Howard (Butch), Frederick (who died at age 1 ½), Ethel, Alfred (John) and Walter (Wally). She was born and raised in Livonia on the family farm, located on Seven Mile road between Merriman and Middlebelt Roads. She was raised on hard work and dedication to her family. Hilda grew up during the Depression, and she graduated high school in 1934 with no frills or special party. For her graduation, her mother made her dress – she had no cap or gown. In 2004, she attended her 70th class reunion at Northville High School where she and her other classmates were honored during the regular commencement ceremony. There she donned the cap and gown she was never able to wear growing up. It was a proud moment for her.

Despite having such a large group of siblings, Hilda was very close to her brothers and sister. She was in her brother Edgar’s wedding as a flower girl when he married Cora. She kept the little wrist corsage she wore for the wedding as a memento. Years later, when Ed was in a nursing home in South Lyon, she would drive to visit him. At the age of 90, he was set in his ways and didn’t want to give up smoking, so Hilda would sneak cigars and bananas into the nursing home for him. She also visited her brother Wally in Sacramento on two occasions with her daughter, Carol and son-in-law, Henry.

Hilda was baptized, schooled, confirmed and married at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Her mother and father were charter members of St. Paul’s, part of the founding members who incorporated the church in 1892. On May 3, 1941, she married the love of her life, Russell Nacker. They were blessed with two daughters, Carol and Diane. She raised her daughters and many grandchildren in a small bungalow in Livonia, holding family gatherings and tending to her home. Her husband, Russell, passed away in 1971 unexpectedly. It was at that time that Hilda learned to drive for the first time. She found employment working in the school kitchen in Clarenceville and raised her daughters on her own.

It is unsurprising that her employment involved both cooking and children, because she loved both. She was an excellent cook and rarely made anything the same twice. Everything she made seemed to taste better because she made it. Her recipes, some of which were only in her head, never tasted the same when anyone tried to duplicate them, probably because of the extra love she put into them. She could “doctor up” anything to make it taste special. She would say, “I really have no recipe – I just throw it all in, taste it, and add more seasoning until I like how it tastes.” Some of her family’s favorites included her molasses cookies, cabbage soup and breads.

After retirement from working in the school cafeteria, she joined the Foster Grandparent program with the Livonia Public Schools as a teacher’s helper and also in the library at Webster School. She had a great love of children and spent many summers working at a camp for special needs children. She would read to them and love them as if they were her own. They all called her “Grandma”. In fact, there were few people she met, young or old, who didn’t call her “Grandma”. She touched over a hundred children’s lives or more while working for the program, and shared her joy, love and laughter with all that she met. She used to say that as she was getting older, it was harder for her to always work, but that she was still alive so God must still have some plan for her. She drove herself to work for as long as she was able. Even after a small fender bender after an unfortunate left-hand turn, she still continued to drive, finding creative routes to her destinations saying, “You know, three rights make a left!” When she finally had to give up driving, she travelled by bus to get to her students every day. She was given the Presidential award for volunteering 4000 hours of her time to help the children. At the age of 90, she was presented with the prestigious Golden Apple Award by the Superintendent of Livonia Public Schools for her contribution to children and the school district.

Hilda was blessed with 6 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, in whom she found great joy. She loved to stay current on politics and never hesitated to get into a good debate about what was amuck in the world. She was a feisty, spirited lady with strong opinions and feelings about the world. She also loved a great Detroit Tigers baseball game, which she regularly listened to in the summer on the radio. She had an uncanny ability to grow plants. It could be half dead, and it would bloom for her! That was just another example of how she brought joy and life to everything she touched. Hilda loved music, especially church hymns, and taught herself how to play the piano. Her sister, Ethel, had piano lessons when she was young, but Hilda never did. Nevertheless, she still loved to play by ear, and taught herself to play. She did not have a piano in her home, but whenever she visited her daughter Carol, she would sit at the piano and play.

All in all, Hilda lived an incredible life. She saw horse and buggy to automobile; the first man on the moon; brothers survive World War II; the Great Depression; typewriters to computers; radio to television. She weathered heartache and shared joy. She was faithful to the Lord and strived to live a life full of purpose and service to others. She lived her life well and will be greatly missed. May she now rest in peace with her Lord and Savior, and may perpetual light shine upon her.

Hildegard W. Nacker of St. Johns, MI died Saturday, May 17, 2014 at the age of 97. Born October 23, 1916 to Frederick and Augusta (Ludemann) Garchow, Hildegard was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church. She married Russell Nacker in 1941 and he preceded her in death in 1971.

Surviving are her daughter, Carol (Henry) Burkhardt of St. Johns; grandchildren, Patricia Burkhardt, Sandra (Morgan) Watt, James (Wendy) Burkhardt, Thomas (Helene) Burkhardt, Karen (Jeff) Spezia, and Kimberly (Doug) Krug; ten great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Along with her husband, Russell, Hildegard was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Diane Nauseda; one sister and eight brothers.

Funeral services will be held 1:00 PM Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at the Osgood Funeral Home, 104 E. Cass St., St. Johns, MI 48879 with Pastor Bryan Salminen officiating. Burial will be Thursday, May 22, 2014 at Glen Eden Lutheran Memorial Park in Livonia, MI. The family will receive friends from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Wednesday at the funeral home.